We remember to pack our suitcases and charge our phones, but there are so many other things you should test out before heading off to the airport, especially if you’re going on a long trip. I’ve done 3 month excursions and it was pivotal I got these sorted in advance; otherwise you can get in a real pickle.
Test Your Bank Cards, Use Multiple Ones
Never rely on just one bank card when you go abroad, you want to ensure you have multiple options. It might be whatever traditional bank you use, like Santander or Nationwide, then a digital one like Revolut, as things can go wrong or you could lose a card and have to fall back on another.
You may have to alert the bank if you’re going abroad, as many years ago my card was swallowed by a machine as it saw it as potential fraud that I had taken out £250 while abroad without any prior payment. Nowadays this can be done with online banking, so you don’t even have to go in to a branch to let them know anymore.
Also, with the growth of contactless payments, it’s amazing how many people are forgetting their PIN, but you may require your PIN for payments while abroad, so make sure you have that memorised.
Check Your Roaming Arrangement
I switched over to a non-main phone company, as they offered virtually unlimited on everything for £10 per month and this also included EU roaming, which was pivotal for me.
If you don’t know if you get EU roaming, you should certainly check this out in advance of getting on a plane. That way, you can use Google Maps without freaking out about a potential bill when you get home.
If you’re leaving the EU, it’s even more important to check what terms your phone company offers, as some countries can be excessively pricey. I remember paying quite a bit in Japan, but I had to set an agreed rate in advance, as if it was on a rolling basis, they can increase the charges.
Test Your VPN Before Heading Off
If you’re going to be using a VPN while abroad, you don’t want to test it for the first time while in a different country, just give it a run through while at home, make sure you get comfortable with it and know how it works.
You may require an app, which could require Wi-Fi connection, or you may have to install an extension, each one is different and it’s good to learn the process and how to switch it on when you’re using public Wi-Fi.
Plus many of the VPN services do offer a free trial so you can see at home whether it works for you or not. Check the trial period offered by CyberGhost as an example of one to pick from.
Check Your Travel Adapters
Every country seems to use a different voltage or frequency, which can be a bit of a headache when working out the right travel adapters, as the last thing you want is to blow your phone or laptop, which can easily happen!
Some main culprits which might require a different voltage can be hairdryers and straighteners, while if you leave Europe then the voltage might not be able to work these and they can even lead to fires, so you have to be careful.
If you’re using old travel adapters you’ve had for years, you should quickly inspect the pins to make sure they’re not bent or the adapter isn’t cracked at all, as they can break over time, especially being thrown around in our suitcases.
Charge Everything
It’s amazing how often I meet people while travelling and they’ve forgotten to charge everything other than their phone. You want 1-2 power banks and you need to make sure they’re fully charged, along with your headphones, laptop or anything else you might have that has a battery.
You also want to ensure you have the relevant cables packed. Nowadays they tend to use the same cables, so grateful for that law change, but some older electronics might use more obscure cables that will be hard to find while abroad if you leave it at home.
Raquel often brings multi-charging wires, which have each variation in cables attached, so it works for all devices, a nifty little tech idea from her.
